[ganoksin] build your own advanced jewelers bench

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Build Your Own Advanced Jewelers Bench

Excerpts from: Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition

By Tim McCreight

Copyright © Brynmorgen Press, 2004

See also: Build Your Own Basic Jewelers Bench

This sophisticated bench costs a little more and is a bit more difficult to make than the one on the preceding page, but

the extra effort will be repaid by years of efficient work. Use this pattern as a starting point, but feel free to make

changes to suit your individual needs.

This bench is made of maple or a similar hardwood. Construction requires a table saw and cabinetmaking skills. The

sizes given are standard, but of course you can change them to suit your needs. An advantage of this bench is that itbreaks down to travel and can be fit in the trunk of a car.

Parts List All measurements refer to inches.

Top (1) 36 x 22 x 1 1/2Legs (4) 36 x 3 x 1 1/2

Short Braces (4) 20 x 3 x 1 1/2

Long Braces (2) 36 x 3 x 1 1/2

Drawer

Sides (2) 20 x 6 x 3/4

Front (1) 34* x 6 x 3/4 [*] approximate

Back (1) 32 x 6 x 3/4

Sweeps

Sides (2) 20 x 3 x 3/4

Front (1) 34* x 2 x 3/4 [*] approximate

Back (1) 32 x 3 x 3/4

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Make the top, either from plywood laminated with Masonite, by gluing up strips,

or from commercial butcher block. The heavier the better, since this helps anchor

the bench.

The two leg units are made with mortise and tenon joints and permanently glued

up. Drill 3/4" holes across the top pieces.

Cut additional mortises at right angles to the leg units to hold two cross braces.

Corresponding tenons are cut on the brace pieces.

With the braces in position, drill 3/4" holes directly through the tenons from the

outside. These will be joined with bolts that will hold the legs together but allowthem to be disassembled. A 1 1/2" hole in the brace allows access for a washer

and nut.

Flip the bench upside down and set the top into position. Attach it with lag bolts

and washers.


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Make two drawers, one with 6" sides that will be close to the top and another with

shallow sides that will catch sweeps. The dimensions will depend on the space

between the legs and the clearance needed for the drawer glides calculate thisbefore starting the drawers.

Cut a dado on the front piece and either dovetail or lap joints on the back corners.

Set a piece of 1/4" plywood or Masonite into a groove along the bottom edge.

Install drawer glides as specified by the manufacturer.

To divide the drawer into smaller units, cut a center divider with a shelf track. Set

small board of the same height along the walls, and make small open boxes about

half the depth of the drawer to slide along these tracks.

To hold a bench pin, buy a 6"x6"x1/4" piece of steel. Route an opening this size at

the front edge of the top.

Cut away an additional area equivalent to the tang of a bench pin. Drill a 1/4" hole

centered in this space.


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Insert as 1/4" T-nut, matched with a thumbscrew. This will hold the pin in place.

Secure the steel with countersunk screws in each corner.

All rights reserved internationally. Copyright © 2004 Brynmorgen Press Users have permission to download this information and share it as long as nomoney is made. No commercial use of this information is allowed without written permission from Brynmorgen Press

Purchase your own copy of "Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition" today.

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[ganoksin] build your own advanced jewelers bench

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